Day One (not including travel)
Morning view from our deck up in Moose Hollow.
Snowbasin
Took a while to get the crew out the door and to the resort. 8 guys from 29 to 61, intermediate to expert, 2 new to our mini gathering. I got my Mountain Collective Pass without problem and everyone else picked up their week in advance online purchase passes.
Only 3 lifts were running, Littlecat, Becker and Wildcat, all other lifts on wind hold, but everyone was hopeful that more would open. They did tease us twice during the day by running the Needles Gondola, but that was only to rotate people at the upper mountain lodge.
Even with only about 20% of the mountain open, We had a mostly good day. Moderately crowded in the morning since the real estate was limited. Snow on-trail was decent, thin in the trees. Temperature in the low 30s. Wind gusts could be felt near the top of Wildcat. Crowd thinned around lunchtime as hopes dimmed on getting more of the mountain opened. Light snow started after lunch.
The Moose (okay, this is an end of day shot, but belongs near the beginning of the story)
Son#1 waiting for the laggards on the first run.
Favorite landscape shot
First casualty of the trip.
In a lift line, no less. 2:30pm at Wildcat. 4 not quite sober guys come barreling 'round the plastic slowdown barrier and ram into me and my son. No bodily damage, but after the untangling, one of my poles didn't survive. The guy was apologetic and reimbursed me for the poles. But my plan to experiment with different lengths, as was discussed in another forum, ended prematurely. The worst part of the incident was one the other guys laughing and saying "you ski at your own risk." Wish I would have thought of a comeback about the skier responsibility code at the time.
I'll have to check on whether I can get a replacement lower section. Would hate to scrap out the sticks.
Tomorrow, Powder Mountain if the winds mellow, otherwise will stay on the ground with some cross country skiing.